Last week, the U.S. Senate passed S.744 Comprehensive Immigration Reform or the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act,”, which claims to provide pathways to legalization of the over 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States. GABRIELA USA stands together with all migrants and their families in upholding the rights and welfare of our communities while politicians propose and decide on a comprehensive immigration reform bill that will alter the lives of millions of immigrants.

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In order for immigrants to gain legalization, they would have go through a complex multi-step process with strict guidelines, and expensive fees and penalties. With exorbitant fees and close surveillance at every stage towards gaining legal status, this reform would make it nearly impossible for the majority of an already economically disadvantaged and vulnerable group of people. The legalization would prioritize immigrants that have access to money and loans guaranteeing to leave out the majority of immigrants who are poor.

“Families are torn apart everyday, and GABRIELA USA demands re-unification for all families, including parents, children, siblings, cousins, grandparents, and LGBTIQ families,” stated Tina Shauf, GABRIELA-USA Vice Chair of Campaigns. We are pushing for a more inclusive and expansive classification of “family” so that immigration policies do not break up families and keep them separated indefinitely.

“Countless migrants fall victim to an oppressive imperialist system that forces them out of their countries and separates them from their families. They come to the United States to find jobs and an honest living, in turn making them legitimate contributors to the economy. Yet, they are poorly treated, as if they are not deserving of human rights afforded to more privileged counterparts of U.S. society, and this inhumane practice needs to end!” says Shauf.